Hard Work Pays Off For Determined Teen Who Took the Bus to Graduation Wearing Cap and Gown

Thousands of high school grads across the country are walking across the stage to receive some well-deserved recognition for their last four years of hard work – and Corey Patrick is no exception.

For the entirety of his senior year, Corey has been waking up at 4AM every morning to take the bus to Tarrant High School. The student had gone to Tarrant city schools for most of his life until he recently moved from Birmingham, Alabama to West End, and even though it was a long commute, he said he wanted to go back to Tarrant for his final year of high school so he could graduate with his friends.

People have been praising Corey’s hard work after a bus driver snapped a photo of him walking away from the bus while he was all dressed up in his cap and gown for graduation.

Additionally, Corey had ridden the bus by himself because his family had been unable to find transportation until the very last minute.

The bus driver posted the photo to social media, saying: “You tell me this ain’t determination … Sometimes it’s all in what you want out of life. He didn’t have on the best, but he was the best in my eyes. I was so proud of this black young man.”

The photo was shared thousands of times until it was eventually spotted by local radio host Rickey Smiley.

Smiley brought Corey onto his morning radio show so he could talk to the youth about his determined nature; and according to the student, it all paid off – he was recently offered a full scholarship to study computer sciences at Jacksonville University.

Not only that, Smiley then surprised Corey with a new car, along with free driving lessons.

Corey Patrick doesn’t have his driver’s license yet, but he plans to take the test this summer so he can drive his new set of wheels pic.twitter.com/VbWJBZLoWg

“Corey is an inspiration to us all,” 95.7 Jamz Program Director Nu York said in a press release. “His determination for success must be praised and recognized. Corey teaches us all a great lesson about endurance and how to push through no matter our circumstances.”

(WATCH the video below)

Share The Inspiring Story Of Perseverance With Your Friends And Share To Social Media– Photo by Dee Bee